Rosberg hopes "haters" get over F1 cockpit protection

Opinion among fans and even high-profile F1 figures is split about moves to introduce either the Halo or Aeroscreen next year.

Bernie Ecclestone became the latest figure to criticise the plans in Russia, when he even suggested that the sport should do 'nothing' about improving cockpit safety.

Rosberg does not agree with Ecclestone's suggestion, and thinks that F1 should be doing all it can to ensure that one of the systems is ready for 2017.

"We need it, for sure," he said. "It is the biggest danger zone that remains in our sport, as we have seen fatalities as well unfortunately, and so it is an area where we need to keep pushing safety.

"It is the area that is most important at the moment, so it is great to see things progressing, and I am confident a solution will be found. All drivers are up for it."

Halo haters

Despite the benefits of improved safety, Rosberg is well aware that the introduction of either the Halo or Aeroscreen will fundamentally move the sport away from being open cockpit.

It is an issue that cannot simply be ignored, but equally he points out that all safety improvements over the years have been causes of controversy.

"We are well aware that it is not ideal for the purists, and we [the drivers] are purists ourselves," he explained. "So we are well aware of that compromise.

"But in the history of the sport, where safety has come about, it has always been a compromise. Every episode you can talk about in the history of the last 60 years, there has been exactly the same moaning initially, exactly the same issues with the looks changing and the look being worse.

"Just think back to the cockpit [sides] being raised and people not seeing the drivers any more. Every time it is the same. We just need to accept that.

"Hopefully the haters will get over it. Of course I respect them and I understand them, but hopefully they can get over it and it is the right direction for F1."